My students are posting their own work on Artsonia this year

photo center

I am so behind with my posting but I will try to catch up soon.  I have a lot of things I would like to share with you.  Today I want to talk about Artsonia and some of the terrific great changes that have occurred this year.  I really love everything that Artsonia brings to my program.  I like the ease of sending updated information to all of my student's families through the use of the newsletter.  I love that the new National Art Standards are available to add with an easy drop down menu to every one of the galleries I post demonstrating to families and my administrators that students are continually being exposed to Art standards with the lessons I teach.  Lastly, I love that my 4th and 5th grade students have enthusiastically embraced posting their own work this year and the time that saves me each and every day.  I set up a station in both of my schools that makes posting readily available to students at anytime during their art experience.  The iPad is ready to go placed on an old locker shelf.  Students log in and snap their picture with ease.  I no longer struggle with missing names on work because students post themselves.  I also am able to go back in and re-crop work if I'm not 100% pleased with how a student cropped their work.  I have a students add an optional title when they photograph and then move to another area or the room and another device to add art statements to their work.  This all happens totally independently of what is happening in my classroom and with my teaching.  I am freed up to help other students and also relieved of the "what do I do next?" question.  This is my photo station, above right, missing the wire rack.  I had initially tried an iPad holder but found it was not strong enough to withstand use by my students.  Below is the new poster I created to remind them of the steps to posting their work.